Chapter 6 Suspected Secrets
{Japanese} Thoughts
Talon Residence, Kansas, United States
The group finally got themselves under control. Akane and Ranma just smiled nervously at the Americans. Man, these people are crazier than Kodachi Ranma thought as he watched them all catch their breath. He looked at Akane and was glad that she was as clueless as he was.
"Well, then," Zach huffed, "we actually came over to see if you all wanted to go out and get some ice cream or do something?" He looked at everyone as they nodded in agreement. Akane looked out the window to see the rain that was now coming down and discretely poked Ranma in the ribs, pointing to the window.
"I think we'll stay here. It was a long trip you know and jetlag is just killing me." Akane yawned to emphasis her point and Ranma nodded his head in agreement. The group visibly slumped at this statement but left for the promised banana splits.
As they walked out the door, Jennifer picked up the small cat on the porch, "Sorry princess Loki, but you have to stay in the garage tonight." She scratched the cat behind the ears and put her back on the porch.
"You really should stop calling her that Jennifer. You've given my cat a complex. She acts like a little princess as it is, please don't encourage her." Kate whined as she got into the car.
Jennifer rolled her eyes, "she gets it from her owner."
"What was that?"
"Oh nothing"
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Tendo Dojo, Nerima, Japan
"Well?" Nabiki asked the spatula-wielding girl.
"Of course I want to know where my Ran-Chan is." Okay, bite the bullet, girl. She just sell you the information like she always does. Ukyo smirked at her thoughts oblivious the fact that Nabiki was studying her.
Nabiki waited while the other girl played out what would happen in her head. I think I may have become too predictable Nabiki let out a loud sigh, which startled Ukyo out of her reverie.
"So.." Ukyo stated, "where is he and how much do I owe you?"
Nabiki rolled her eyes Yep, I've let myself become too predictable. So much for a stable income. Time to shake things up. "How much do you owe me? Well then, we could count up all the property damage you and your associates have caused the dojo, not to mention the surrounding area." Nabiki stated plainly, watching in delight as Ukyo slightly paled.
"Wh-what !?!?" Ukyo stuttered well this is new
"or we could add up the cost of the wedding that you helped crash..."
Ukyo got even paler, "Nabiki... you know I can't afford that."
"or the medical bills that we have due to the injuries we all, especially Akane and Ranma, sustain during some of you 'competitions'" Nabiki paused then for dramatic effect. "or you can give up your claim on Ranma all together."
Ukyo now totally deflated just looked at Nabiki in shock for a few seconds before she responded, "I've got 5250 yen on me. I'll give it to you if you give me information." Totally ignoring Nabiki's comment about giving up Ranma and forgetting to ask for specific information as she dug out her cash.
Nabiki smiled and took the money offered, "okay, he went to North America."
Defying gravity, Ukyo landed face first to the pavement. "That's all your going to tell me!!" Ukyo screeched.
Nabiki gave Ukyo a glare, "you asked for information and I gave you the information that fit the price. Now if you want more information you need more cash or something even more valuable. Consider giving Ranma up. Then you would have to pay me and I would give you all the information you need."
Ukyo just glared back at the older girl. "It's a place to start. I mean how many Ranma's are in Northern America." Ukyo ran out the gate.
As she left a small shadow also leapt out of the bushes and was bouncing over the rooftops. The shadow could be heard mumbling something like "Master Kuno, will be most interested, yes, most interested."
Nabiki rolled her eyes, well I guess, Kuno and Kodachi will be paying us a visit soon. Honestly, can Ukyo be that dense. Ranma isn't a resident so his name won't be listed. She smirked However I do feel bad for the 16 listed Saotome's that I found on the internet last night And with that she walked into the house.
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Talen Residence
Ranma and Akane watched as the group of teenagers left in their cars. Jane got up from her spot and began clearing the table, taking dishes in to the kitchen. A moment later, she came out slightly paler. "Do I even want to know how the kids destroyed my cast iron skillets?"
Akane and Ranma looked at her blankly for a moment before deciding to shake their heads.
Jane looked at them for a moment and went back into the kitchen.
"So Ranma, how exactly did you learn English?" Akane asked. She had been waiting to ask him since they left the airport.
"Ukyo taught me." Ranma said eating his second helping, "She learned it while she was traveling."
Akane stayed quiet. I am sooooo tired. I know I should pound him for spending time with Ukyo but I just don't have the energy.
Ranma raised his eyebrows at Akane expecting her to pound him any minute. He then sighed and decided that maybe she was chilling out some.
Jane came back into the dining room, "Well I'll show you where you two can sleep. You both look totally exhausted. Follow me, please and we'll move your luggage later."
Its going to be weird having a mom around Akane and Ranma were thinking as they followed Jane to their respective sleeping quarters.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Tendo Dojo, Japan
Kasumi had watched Ukyo and Nabiki from the back and just smiled as Ukyo paid Nabiki and left. She knew that Nabiki hadn't given her any real information and that Ukyo probably could have gotten more from the school newspaper that told where each one of the exchange students went. Fortunantly the only people who read the school newspaper were the parents and a small handful of students. The rest didn't care or know that the school had a newspaper. She watched as Nabiki turned and started coming into the house.
"Nabiki, I am so proud of you!!" Kasumi said as she moved aside to let her sister in.
"Don't be. I have ulterior motives here... and as soon as I figure those out I'll tell you." Nabiki looked thoughtful for a minute. "Kasumi what do you think of me?"
Kasumi blinked twice. This is a trick question. What do I say...Nabiki I think you are a money monger? No. that mean even if it may be true. Nabiki...you are a sweet girl...no that may be true very rarely...Nabiki you have a good sense with money...eh...that's true..but...
"Kasumi?" Nabiki looked at her sister shake her head a little bit as she cleared her thoughts. Man this can't be good if Kasumi has to think about it
"Nabiki, I think that you will be an excellent business women when you get older." There that nice now isn't it? Kasumi looked at Nabiki who for once looked very sad, in fact Kasumi couldn't remember Nabiki looking this sad since their mother died. "Nabiki are you okay?"
At that Nabiki broke down and hugged her sister fiercely "oh Mimi, people think that I am horrible, and mean and heartless..." She hiccupped as she cried.
Kasumi looked down at her little sister She hasn't called me Mimi since mom died. "Nabiki who has told you such things. You know you are none of these things." Okay so its could be considered lying but I know Nabiki is a sweet girl at heart
Nabiki hiccupped again and pulled away from her sister and lead her up the stairway to her room. Kasumi stayed quiet. She could hear that Nabiki was still crying even if she couldn't see her face. They entered the room and Nabiki let go of Kasumi's had to dig underneath her bed to pull out a very small laptop.
"Nabiki, where'd you get that?" Kasumi thought that no one in the house owned a computer and for Nabiki to have one and her not know about it was strange.
"Akane and I bought it for school. We kept it a secret because we didn't want Happosai to be on it and looking for porn. And Dad would have given us grief about the evils of the internet. We swore Ranma to secrecy because he needed it for school too. Now that you know you can use it too if you want I can show you sometime." As she said this she had hooked the computer up to the internet line and turned the machine on. She clicked the browser and brought up the favorites menu and clicked twice. I brought up a website that had the title "NABIKI TENDO" at the top. "Can you read English?" Kasumi nodded, "Good read this"
Kasumi read the page. It listed a good amount of what Nabiki had been up to the last few years, including selling Ranma's time at her Christmas party last year. Kasumi raised her eyebrows at a few of the references as she was unaware of them before. Then at the bottom of the page was a list of reasons why Nabiki should be shot. Kasumi looked at her sister in concern. "Nabi, is someone stalking you?"
Nabiki started to cry again "Mimi I don't know and I am so scared hiccup and with Akane and Ranma no longer around I really don't have any protection. I don't have any training and I don't think anyone at school would help me unless I paid them. I don't think I have any real friends...am I this horrible, Mimi that people want me dead?" Nabiki continued to cry looking lost.
Kasumi looked at Nabiki and didn't see the calculating young women she knew so well but the little girl who was crying and asking her why their mother had left them. She hugged Nabiki and smoothed down her hair. "its okay, you'll be okay. I'll talk to Daddy later tonight and see what we can't do." Kasumi continued to hold her sister until Nabiki cried herself to sleep.
Kasumi gently placed Nabiki's head on a pillow and left through room. Maybe it's a good thing that Akane and Ranma are out of the country. At least we have some options. Maybe I should go ask Dr. Tofu for advise. Father would just cry and that is of no help to anyone. She went out into the garden and looked around, well that'll work She walked over to one of the big bushes that surround the outer wall of the property.
"Please show yourself, Mousse." To anyone looking, it would have looked as if Kasumi had lost her mind and was talking to a bush, or that what her niebhors thought as they watched her shook their heads and went on with their business. Of course, after they turned away Mousse poked his head out of the bush looking slightly ashamed and very surprised at being caught let alone by Kasumi.
"Mousse will you please watch Nabiki for me. Make sure that no one kidnaps her or attacks her while I'm gone."
Mousse looked at Kasumi and felt why Ranma was always incredibly obedient to the girl. She had an underlying strength in her that told a person who could feel it that you should not piss this person off. "uh, why should I do this for you, Miss Tendo."
"I know you were here spying for Ranma. Well, Ranma's not here and you have been there for a few hours now doing absolutely nothing. I won't call Cologne and tell her that you have been lazy while you were supposed to be delivering Ramen. Plus, it's the honorable thing to do. You have no real grudge against my family and you don't really hate Ranma. So please do this for me."
Mousse looked at Kasumi in shock and knew why Nabiki and Akane could be so cunning sometimes, it wasn't because just the two of them were smart it was because all the Tendo women were smart and incredibly strong willed. must have gotten that from their mother "Kasumi, consider Nabiki as protected until you get back."
Kasumi returned to her normal sunny self. "Thank you, Mousse. You can have what you want in the refrigerator and when I get back I'll make dinner for you.' She walked out the gate and poked her head back in to look at Mousse, "or I'll make dinner out of you." Kasumi laughed at her joke as she went on to Dr. Tofu's house.
Mousse on the other hand wasn't so sure of the woman's sanity and decided that he would only be cooked if Nabiki was harmed on his watch.
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Ice Cream Parlor, Kansas
"We are totally serious. This girl made an imprint in the counter at the airport and I swear her hair levitated just a little bit. Plus she has a pet pig, and get this the name of the this pig is P-Chan. Her name is Akane Tendo who just so happens to be engaged to one Ranma Saotome." Jennifer took a bit out of her banana split. The others around the table looked at her.
"Plus she has two sisters named Nabiki and Kasumi." Kate said drinking her limeaid the group as one shifted their heads in Kate's direction. "what was I not supposed to say anything?"
"you're kidding right you two are just pulling our legs." Jon said looking Kate and Jennifer in the eye.
"Nope. Scouts honor!" Jennifer said holding up her hand in the Boy Scout sign.
"Jen, you were a girl scout." Kate said plainly
"Right." Jennifer put up her third finger for Girl Scout and smiled while everyone else shook their heads.
"Are you sure that you two aren't just crazy. I mean sure those are coincidences but that doesn't mean a boy can turn into a girl with cold water. Plus you also know that it is impossible for people to do what they do on that anime. It is a cartoon and all." Zach said while taking a bite out of Jennifer's Banana Split
"It would be cool though." Libbie said looking at Kate's Limeaid longingly until Kate gave up and gave her a drink.
"Yeah." The group said simultaneously sighed.
"you know if Ranma and Akane are both into martial arts maybe we could spare sometimes." Ben said while drinking his milkshake.
"That's a great idea." Jon said and patted Ben on the back, "I'll set it up for you. Hey you were in Tae Kwon Do, Libbie why don't you spare with Akane then?"
"I quit TKD but it would be fun anyway." Libbie said as she polished off Kate's Limeaid much to Kate's dismay.
"As for the freaky coincidences, lets just watch them for awhile. I am sure that you two are just being crazy and that there will be deviations from the anime." Chris said as he swatted Jon away from his French Fries.
"Agreed" And the group continued to eat each others food.
{Japanese} Thoughts
Talon Residence, Kansas, United States
The group finally got themselves under control. Akane and Ranma just smiled nervously at the Americans. Man, these people are crazier than Kodachi Ranma thought as he watched them all catch their breath. He looked at Akane and was glad that she was as clueless as he was.
"Well, then," Zach huffed, "we actually came over to see if you all wanted to go out and get some ice cream or do something?" He looked at everyone as they nodded in agreement. Akane looked out the window to see the rain that was now coming down and discretely poked Ranma in the ribs, pointing to the window.
"I think we'll stay here. It was a long trip you know and jetlag is just killing me." Akane yawned to emphasis her point and Ranma nodded his head in agreement. The group visibly slumped at this statement but left for the promised banana splits.
As they walked out the door, Jennifer picked up the small cat on the porch, "Sorry princess Loki, but you have to stay in the garage tonight." She scratched the cat behind the ears and put her back on the porch.
"You really should stop calling her that Jennifer. You've given my cat a complex. She acts like a little princess as it is, please don't encourage her." Kate whined as she got into the car.
Jennifer rolled her eyes, "she gets it from her owner."
"What was that?"
"Oh nothing"
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Tendo Dojo, Nerima, Japan
"Well?" Nabiki asked the spatula-wielding girl.
"Of course I want to know where my Ran-Chan is." Okay, bite the bullet, girl. She just sell you the information like she always does. Ukyo smirked at her thoughts oblivious the fact that Nabiki was studying her.
Nabiki waited while the other girl played out what would happen in her head. I think I may have become too predictable Nabiki let out a loud sigh, which startled Ukyo out of her reverie.
"So.." Ukyo stated, "where is he and how much do I owe you?"
Nabiki rolled her eyes Yep, I've let myself become too predictable. So much for a stable income. Time to shake things up. "How much do you owe me? Well then, we could count up all the property damage you and your associates have caused the dojo, not to mention the surrounding area." Nabiki stated plainly, watching in delight as Ukyo slightly paled.
"Wh-what !?!?" Ukyo stuttered well this is new
"or we could add up the cost of the wedding that you helped crash..."
Ukyo got even paler, "Nabiki... you know I can't afford that."
"or the medical bills that we have due to the injuries we all, especially Akane and Ranma, sustain during some of you 'competitions'" Nabiki paused then for dramatic effect. "or you can give up your claim on Ranma all together."
Ukyo now totally deflated just looked at Nabiki in shock for a few seconds before she responded, "I've got 5250 yen on me. I'll give it to you if you give me information." Totally ignoring Nabiki's comment about giving up Ranma and forgetting to ask for specific information as she dug out her cash.
Nabiki smiled and took the money offered, "okay, he went to North America."
Defying gravity, Ukyo landed face first to the pavement. "That's all your going to tell me!!" Ukyo screeched.
Nabiki gave Ukyo a glare, "you asked for information and I gave you the information that fit the price. Now if you want more information you need more cash or something even more valuable. Consider giving Ranma up. Then you would have to pay me and I would give you all the information you need."
Ukyo just glared back at the older girl. "It's a place to start. I mean how many Ranma's are in Northern America." Ukyo ran out the gate.
As she left a small shadow also leapt out of the bushes and was bouncing over the rooftops. The shadow could be heard mumbling something like "Master Kuno, will be most interested, yes, most interested."
Nabiki rolled her eyes, well I guess, Kuno and Kodachi will be paying us a visit soon. Honestly, can Ukyo be that dense. Ranma isn't a resident so his name won't be listed. She smirked However I do feel bad for the 16 listed Saotome's that I found on the internet last night And with that she walked into the house.
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Talen Residence
Ranma and Akane watched as the group of teenagers left in their cars. Jane got up from her spot and began clearing the table, taking dishes in to the kitchen. A moment later, she came out slightly paler. "Do I even want to know how the kids destroyed my cast iron skillets?"
Akane and Ranma looked at her blankly for a moment before deciding to shake their heads.
Jane looked at them for a moment and went back into the kitchen.
"So Ranma, how exactly did you learn English?" Akane asked. She had been waiting to ask him since they left the airport.
"Ukyo taught me." Ranma said eating his second helping, "She learned it while she was traveling."
Akane stayed quiet. I am sooooo tired. I know I should pound him for spending time with Ukyo but I just don't have the energy.
Ranma raised his eyebrows at Akane expecting her to pound him any minute. He then sighed and decided that maybe she was chilling out some.
Jane came back into the dining room, "Well I'll show you where you two can sleep. You both look totally exhausted. Follow me, please and we'll move your luggage later."
Its going to be weird having a mom around Akane and Ranma were thinking as they followed Jane to their respective sleeping quarters.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Tendo Dojo, Japan
Kasumi had watched Ukyo and Nabiki from the back and just smiled as Ukyo paid Nabiki and left. She knew that Nabiki hadn't given her any real information and that Ukyo probably could have gotten more from the school newspaper that told where each one of the exchange students went. Fortunantly the only people who read the school newspaper were the parents and a small handful of students. The rest didn't care or know that the school had a newspaper. She watched as Nabiki turned and started coming into the house.
"Nabiki, I am so proud of you!!" Kasumi said as she moved aside to let her sister in.
"Don't be. I have ulterior motives here... and as soon as I figure those out I'll tell you." Nabiki looked thoughtful for a minute. "Kasumi what do you think of me?"
Kasumi blinked twice. This is a trick question. What do I say...Nabiki I think you are a money monger? No. that mean even if it may be true. Nabiki...you are a sweet girl...no that may be true very rarely...Nabiki you have a good sense with money...eh...that's true..but...
"Kasumi?" Nabiki looked at her sister shake her head a little bit as she cleared her thoughts. Man this can't be good if Kasumi has to think about it
"Nabiki, I think that you will be an excellent business women when you get older." There that nice now isn't it? Kasumi looked at Nabiki who for once looked very sad, in fact Kasumi couldn't remember Nabiki looking this sad since their mother died. "Nabiki are you okay?"
At that Nabiki broke down and hugged her sister fiercely "oh Mimi, people think that I am horrible, and mean and heartless..." She hiccupped as she cried.
Kasumi looked down at her little sister She hasn't called me Mimi since mom died. "Nabiki who has told you such things. You know you are none of these things." Okay so its could be considered lying but I know Nabiki is a sweet girl at heart
Nabiki hiccupped again and pulled away from her sister and lead her up the stairway to her room. Kasumi stayed quiet. She could hear that Nabiki was still crying even if she couldn't see her face. They entered the room and Nabiki let go of Kasumi's had to dig underneath her bed to pull out a very small laptop.
"Nabiki, where'd you get that?" Kasumi thought that no one in the house owned a computer and for Nabiki to have one and her not know about it was strange.
"Akane and I bought it for school. We kept it a secret because we didn't want Happosai to be on it and looking for porn. And Dad would have given us grief about the evils of the internet. We swore Ranma to secrecy because he needed it for school too. Now that you know you can use it too if you want I can show you sometime." As she said this she had hooked the computer up to the internet line and turned the machine on. She clicked the browser and brought up the favorites menu and clicked twice. I brought up a website that had the title "NABIKI TENDO" at the top. "Can you read English?" Kasumi nodded, "Good read this"
Kasumi read the page. It listed a good amount of what Nabiki had been up to the last few years, including selling Ranma's time at her Christmas party last year. Kasumi raised her eyebrows at a few of the references as she was unaware of them before. Then at the bottom of the page was a list of reasons why Nabiki should be shot. Kasumi looked at her sister in concern. "Nabi, is someone stalking you?"
Nabiki started to cry again "Mimi I don't know and I am so scared hiccup and with Akane and Ranma no longer around I really don't have any protection. I don't have any training and I don't think anyone at school would help me unless I paid them. I don't think I have any real friends...am I this horrible, Mimi that people want me dead?" Nabiki continued to cry looking lost.
Kasumi looked at Nabiki and didn't see the calculating young women she knew so well but the little girl who was crying and asking her why their mother had left them. She hugged Nabiki and smoothed down her hair. "its okay, you'll be okay. I'll talk to Daddy later tonight and see what we can't do." Kasumi continued to hold her sister until Nabiki cried herself to sleep.
Kasumi gently placed Nabiki's head on a pillow and left through room. Maybe it's a good thing that Akane and Ranma are out of the country. At least we have some options. Maybe I should go ask Dr. Tofu for advise. Father would just cry and that is of no help to anyone. She went out into the garden and looked around, well that'll work She walked over to one of the big bushes that surround the outer wall of the property.
"Please show yourself, Mousse." To anyone looking, it would have looked as if Kasumi had lost her mind and was talking to a bush, or that what her niebhors thought as they watched her shook their heads and went on with their business. Of course, after they turned away Mousse poked his head out of the bush looking slightly ashamed and very surprised at being caught let alone by Kasumi.
"Mousse will you please watch Nabiki for me. Make sure that no one kidnaps her or attacks her while I'm gone."
Mousse looked at Kasumi and felt why Ranma was always incredibly obedient to the girl. She had an underlying strength in her that told a person who could feel it that you should not piss this person off. "uh, why should I do this for you, Miss Tendo."
"I know you were here spying for Ranma. Well, Ranma's not here and you have been there for a few hours now doing absolutely nothing. I won't call Cologne and tell her that you have been lazy while you were supposed to be delivering Ramen. Plus, it's the honorable thing to do. You have no real grudge against my family and you don't really hate Ranma. So please do this for me."
Mousse looked at Kasumi in shock and knew why Nabiki and Akane could be so cunning sometimes, it wasn't because just the two of them were smart it was because all the Tendo women were smart and incredibly strong willed. must have gotten that from their mother "Kasumi, consider Nabiki as protected until you get back."
Kasumi returned to her normal sunny self. "Thank you, Mousse. You can have what you want in the refrigerator and when I get back I'll make dinner for you.' She walked out the gate and poked her head back in to look at Mousse, "or I'll make dinner out of you." Kasumi laughed at her joke as she went on to Dr. Tofu's house.
Mousse on the other hand wasn't so sure of the woman's sanity and decided that he would only be cooked if Nabiki was harmed on his watch.
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Ice Cream Parlor, Kansas
"We are totally serious. This girl made an imprint in the counter at the airport and I swear her hair levitated just a little bit. Plus she has a pet pig, and get this the name of the this pig is P-Chan. Her name is Akane Tendo who just so happens to be engaged to one Ranma Saotome." Jennifer took a bit out of her banana split. The others around the table looked at her.
"Plus she has two sisters named Nabiki and Kasumi." Kate said drinking her limeaid the group as one shifted their heads in Kate's direction. "what was I not supposed to say anything?"
"you're kidding right you two are just pulling our legs." Jon said looking Kate and Jennifer in the eye.
"Nope. Scouts honor!" Jennifer said holding up her hand in the Boy Scout sign.
"Jen, you were a girl scout." Kate said plainly
"Right." Jennifer put up her third finger for Girl Scout and smiled while everyone else shook their heads.
"Are you sure that you two aren't just crazy. I mean sure those are coincidences but that doesn't mean a boy can turn into a girl with cold water. Plus you also know that it is impossible for people to do what they do on that anime. It is a cartoon and all." Zach said while taking a bite out of Jennifer's Banana Split
"It would be cool though." Libbie said looking at Kate's Limeaid longingly until Kate gave up and gave her a drink.
"Yeah." The group said simultaneously sighed.
"you know if Ranma and Akane are both into martial arts maybe we could spare sometimes." Ben said while drinking his milkshake.
"That's a great idea." Jon said and patted Ben on the back, "I'll set it up for you. Hey you were in Tae Kwon Do, Libbie why don't you spare with Akane then?"
"I quit TKD but it would be fun anyway." Libbie said as she polished off Kate's Limeaid much to Kate's dismay.
"As for the freaky coincidences, lets just watch them for awhile. I am sure that you two are just being crazy and that there will be deviations from the anime." Chris said as he swatted Jon away from his French Fries.
"Agreed" And the group continued to eat each others food.